“I wouldn’t go so far as to see a little human maid as a threat,” Sista said with a light laugh. She gazed at the bright moonlight, her black hair falling gently, her fair shoulders smooth and radiant.
“Letting them go once—what’s the harm?”
The dark-haired girl lowered her eyes to the shadows at her feet. Su Ling quietly looked at her but couldn’t read her expression. There was a strange undertone in Sista’s voice that Su Ling couldn’t quite place.
The room fell into silence.
Not only had Sista not blamed her, she had even spared Phil and Karsanna… But was this really how the Sista in the novel acted? Or was it all just for show?
After a while, Su Ling could no longer contain the storm of questions in her heart. She needed answers, even if now wasn’t the best time—
“Your Highness… why did you lie earlier? Why did you… help me?”
She finally spoke, her voice hesitant and slow.
Sista’s eyelashes fluttered. Her eyes shifted sideways to glance at Su Ling.
“The reason… I don’t know either. I just went with my gut. Maybe one day I’ll figure it out.”
She looked pensive, maybe even a bit uneasy. There was a deep exhaustion in her eyes that stirred something in Su Ling.
Back in the banquet hall, Sista had worn none of that—she’d smiled calmly and faced a room full of hundred-year-old vampires without batting an eye.
Now, gazing out the window, her side profile looked almost fragile.
“But… the matter of the spices—don’t think you’re off the hook,” Sista suddenly turned back. She lifted Su Ling’s chin with a finger, narrowing her eyes with a curious smile. “As for punishment…”
“Y-Your Highness?” Su Ling froze, her gaze darting away, but Sista stared directly into her, giving her nowhere to hide.
“I’ll tell you about your punishment later,” Sista said with a sly smile. “Tomorrow morning, come to my room—my personal maid.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness.” Su Ling stumbled over her words, but Sista had already turned away and strode off calmly.
That girl… what is she thinking?
Su Ling couldn’t understand her at all. And yet, after what had happened tonight, her feelings toward the vampire girl had become… complicated. Even when Sista mentioned punishment, Su Ling didn’t feel the fear she once did.
As she walked through the long, winding corridor, its stone walls etched with intricate carvings glowing under flickering candlelight, she reflected in silence.
“Su Ling.”
A gentle voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned to see—
It was Tii. Tii tiptoed toward her, winking mischievously.
“What are you doing here?”
“Shhh,” Tii giggled. “Phil and Karsanna are here too. They wanted to talk to you.”
At that moment, Su Ling heard a few soft sighs. She paused and looked ahead to find Phil and Karsanna standing nearby, both wearing expressions of regret.
Karsanna noticed her first and rushed over, grabbing Su Ling by the shoulders. “Su Ling, I… I was blind before to go along with that setup! It was that old bastard Seban’s fault! But anyway, I, Karsanna, admit I lost today. Good thing you spoke up for us in front of Her Highness. I won’t forget that. Next time there’s a benefit, I’ll think of you first!”
“Eh—ow,” Su Ling winced as Karsanna hugged a bit too tightly.
“No ‘eh’! I mean it. I messed up, but from now on, I’ll treat you like a real sister!” Karsanna declared loudly.
Phil, standing behind, looked awkward. She cleared her throat and said:
“I-I admit I was biased before… but I’m not ungrateful. You helped me. I, Phil, will repay that. I swear.”
Hearing Phil’s words, Karsanna couldn’t help but cut in. “Ugh, Phil, what are you doing? We’re apologizing, not declaring war!”
“I am apologizing!” Phil protested.
“You don’t look like it!”
Watching the two bicker, Su Ling could only sigh.
Though their deception had disappointed her, she also knew the royal palace was full of intrigue. With the steward pulling strings from the shadows, mere maids stood little chance of resisting.
She didn’t want to overanalyze how sincere their apologies were. The incident had passed. Holding grudges now would solve nothing.
“Alright, that’s enough,” Su Ling interrupted with a wry smile. “I’m not going to hold a grudge.”
“You really forgive us?” Phil looked surprised. “Even after what we did—?”
“Mhm. Let’s not dwell on it.”
“Haha! I knew it! Su Ling’s not the petty type,” Karsanna laughed heartily, slapping Su Ling’s shoulder again. “Alright, Phil, let’s get back to the banquet hall. We still have work to do. We’ll settle our apology later.”
“But this isn’t something that can be settled just by saying sorry…”
Su Ling could tell—unlike Karsanna, Phil was genuinely remorseful.
“It’s fine. You two go on ahead,” she said gently to Phil.
“We’re off, then. See ya, Su Ling!” Karsanna said, dragging Phil away as they bickered down the hall.
Su Ling exhaled deeply, only to find Tii still standing beside her, watching quietly.
“Tii? Aren’t you going back?”
“Hmm… shhh! I’m stealing a tiny break,” Tii grinned. “Anyway, no one will miss one maid at the banquet. I just wanted to spend a bit more time with you.”
“But if someone catches you…”
This girl really was bold. In such a strict, rule-bound palace, Tii always seemed to do whatever others wouldn’t dare, leaving Su Ling constantly worried.
“It’s really fine,” Tii said, leaning on the window ledge. “Look! The moon’s beautiful tonight.”
“Ah…” Seeing Tii relax, Su Ling did too, following her gaze.
The night sky was inky black. Moonlight spilled across the ancient castle, outlining its outer walls in silver.
Suddenly, a dark cloud drifted across the moon, casting everything in shadow. The corridor dimmed rapidly.
In the dark, Su Ling felt a soft hand take hers.
“Tii?”
“Next time something like this happens, Su Ling, you must tell me,” Tii’s voice came through the darkness, but… it didn’t sound quite the same.
“If those two bully you again, I won’t forgive them.”
Her voice was chillingly cold.
When the cloud passed and light returned to the corridor, Tii was gone.